What sort of fantasy? Elves and goblins (like LotR or HP)? Or alternative reality type fantasy.

One series I like to recommend is the Katherine Kurtz Deryni series, set in an alternative middle ages, where the Church is all-powerful and some people have psychic abilities and are brutally oppressed by the Church because of them. There are a lot of books (set over several centuries), some can be read as stand alone, some are best read in series context, but I love them and reread quite regularly. Kings and power struggles and court intrigue with a bit of magic thrown in. Start with Deryni Rising. A lot of them are out of print in paperback now, but they are on Kindle.

Will add to my reading list (I don't really watch tv but read 5/6 books a month - had to switch to a kindle as my house physically can't fit in any more books, despite me building bookshelves pretty much everywhere it's a bit like wallpaper in my house)

Robin Hobb is my favourite fantasy author. I become fully immersed in her novelsStart with Assassin's Apprentice, you will meet Fitz and take the first steps on an incredible journey.I am so envious that you are coming to these books with no prior knowledge, I reread them every few years. Come back and let people know what you have enjoyed.(You will have a lovely Yule if you download some of these recommendations 😀)

Wow, I had already read a few so thought there would be loads I have already read but of everything recommended I have only read Name Of The Wind.

I am going to bookmark this, I got Age Of Myth for Christmas (read one chapter and I am enjoying it so far) and have downloaded Age of Assassins.

What sort of fantasy? Elves and goblins (like LotR or HP)? Or alternative reality type fantasy

Both are good. I have read both types and liked them.

Trudi Canavan and Jennifer Fallon

Thanks for this, poorly written female characters is something that has marred some of these books for me.

I am so envious that you are coming to these books with no prior knowledge

It's fab, I read so much that it was getting to the point where I would be a quarter way into a book and realise I had already read it.

Years ago I just decided I liked everything except fantasy. My friend (who loves fantasy) managed to get me to try a few and I was hooked, sadly she has more of a life is a much slower reader than me so I have read all her recommendations now.

I keep stumbling on these horrible YA books (not dissing all YA some are terrific) that are so poorly written I wonder who proof read them. My shit book detector just isn't fine tuned for fantasy yet.

Oh yes, Wheel of Time, and Sword of Truth, also the Belgariad Mallorean, Eleneid and Tamuli. I spend three decades waiting for the next book to come out! Also Song of Ice and Fire (aka Game of thrones) and the Malazan books.

I love Robin Hobb's Fitz books and Brandyn Sanderson. Sarah j Maas writes good YA fantasy and Raymond Feist is compulsory. J V Jones is good too. Stephen Donaldson is always a good read as is Neil Gammon. Gosh, there are so many.

Another recent fantasy convert here! Nthing Robin Hobb. And I’m currently reading and adoring The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, who is apparently also the writer Sarah Monette, so I may have to seek out more of her stuff.

If you’re into alternative history too, then try Jo Walton - her Small Change trilogy follows the UK’s descent into fascism after a peace treaty with Germany in WWII, but they’re also brilliantly blended with other genres (cosy mystery, spy thriller, etc). Plus you can get all three from The Book People for about £4. She’s also written Tooth and Claw which she described as Anthony Trollope with dragons.

Her book Among Others is more like urban fantasy, I think? But I’m not an expert in these genres so maybe someone more informed can fit that book into its correct place on the shelves!